Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will bring forward the planned dates for payment of the restored public service pensions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15084/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In June 2015, Government approved proposals for a significant amelioration of pension reductions which had been applied under the financial emergency (FEMPI) legislation to all public service pensions above specified thresholds. This amelioration of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which subsequently became law under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015, provides for changes to occur in three phases, on 1 January 2016, 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018.

On 1 January 2016, increases in the exemption thresholds for PSPR application were activated. These exemption threshold increases fully removed PSPR from a significant number of pensions with relatively lower values, while those pensions which continue to be impacted by PSPR received a boost of €400 per year.

On 1 January 2017, additional PSPR amelioration, acting principally via further exemption threshold increases, will fully remove PSPR from another significant tranche of public service pensioners, while at the same time boosting those pensions which remain affected by PSPR by €500 per year.

On 1 January 2018, the third phase of PSPR amelioration will ensure that all PSPR-impacted pensions with values up to €34,132 will be fully restored, meaning that PSPR will no longer affect such pensions, while those pensions which continue to be impacted by PSPR will get a boost of, in most cases, €780 per year.

These phased PSPR changes across the public service will cost an estimated €90 million on an annual basis and, when fully implemented, will ensure that only the top 20% higher value public service pensions will continue to be impacted by the PSPR. I have no plans to propose alterations to the dates on which these phased changes to the PSPR are to occur, as provided for under FEMPI 2015.

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am required to undertake an annual review of the necessity of the FEMPI legislation and report to the Houses of the Oireachtas. That report is currently being prepared and will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas later this month.